This month the Bible's concluding book, Revelation, will be explored in the latest LHM Men's NetWork Bible study: Explaining All The Scary Stuff in Revelation. In this, the eighth Bible study from the Men's NetWork, the Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour^®, illuminates the confusing and the obscure in Scripture's magnificent final opus.

Surveying the history and root causes behind ancient Rome's homicidal persecution of the early Church, Pastor Klaus details the points of collision between these two entities and how early Christians naturally despaired of their situation. Klaus then gives the viewer rules for understanding and interpreting this book's distinctive writing form.

He explains how Revelation's use of numbers and fantastic symbols, monstrous creatures, and spiritual images are all part of John's secret code—and God's divine plan—to portray the religious and world leaders Satan was using in his battle against Christ and His Church. The use of coded or apocalyptic language kept Revelation's message safe for believers—and hid it from those who would undermine and attack the Church. The coded messages also pointed to Christ's victorious resurrection—comforting the victimized Christians and assuring them of present hope and future triumph in the face of what must have seemed insurmountable odds.

Explaining All The Scary Stuff In Revelation and all the other LHM Men's NetWork resources can be found at www.lhmmen.com.

Gloria Tolisano is the new Manager of Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, our LHM office in Argentina, replacing the Rev. Alberto Groh. Gloria was born in Argentina and came to the church when she attended Concordia High School in Buenos Aires. She worked for 12 years as the administrative secretary for the Colegio Luterano Concordia in the city of Córdoba, and in addition to this, she has worked on producing radio spots for The Lutheran Hour in Argentina.

Gloria is active in the Lutheran Church and a leader in her congregation. According to her pastor, "Gloria has a mission vision which she has shown in all she does that is related to our congregation's mission outreach."

Please join us in welcoming Gloria, and please pray for her in her new ministry role with Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones in Argentina!

In His final words to His disciples, Jesus promised them, "When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world." Today, Jesus' words still stir His disciples to action; by the power of the Holy Spirit, each of us is a witness, carrying the power and privilege to share the story of God's love in Jesus Christ to people who need to hear it.

Join Lutheran Hour Ministries in a special celebration of the Savior's call to every Christian! Sunday, Feb. 7, has been designated Lutheran Hour Ministries Sunday for 2010*; people in congregations across The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will stand with LHM and declare "I am a witness."

Begin making your plans now to celebrate LHM's more than nine decades of Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations to the Church! Your pastor or LHM Ambassador will receive a promotional video DVD and special materials by mid-December to help with the planning process. Resources will be available by mail and over the Internet. To learn more right now, contact Lorraine Triller at ambassador@lhm.org. Online materials will be available no later than Jan. 1 at www.lhm.org/LHMSunday.

* Although Feb. 7 has been designated the official date of LHM Sunday 2010, a congregation may choose an alternate date that is more suitable to its calendar for celebrating LHM Sunday.

Are you frustrated with economic instability? With a charitable gift annuity, you can have the added security of fixed payments with excellent rates. And, most importantly, your gift will help share the Gospel with future generations.

The charitable deduction and the payment rate are determined by the age(s) of the annuitant. If your gift annuity is funded with appreciated assets such as stocks or bonds, your capital gains tax will be reduced. You also qualify for a charitable tax deduction, and a portion of the income is tax-free.

Bob and Lillian Joseph, LHM donors from Billings, Montana, said, "When you meet the Lord, you hope that what you had here on earth will help others know about Christ. With our gift annuity, we have the joy of knowing that a future gift will be made to LHM, plus it ensures we will always have income coming in."

For more information about establishing a charitable gift annuity, please contact one of LHM's Ministry Advancement Officers at 1-877-333-1963, or visit www.lhmgift.org/giftplan.

The Board of Governors for the International Lutheran Laymen's League (Lutheran Hour Ministries) met in St. Louis the weekend of Oct. 15-17 and received positive updates concerning the ministry. A key item of business was a presentation by the Governance Committee on a proposed new structure of the Int'l LLL in the future. After a thorough explanation and discussion, the Board approved the proposal and charged the Policy Study Committee to begin work on bylaws changes to be presented at the 2010 international convention in Omaha.

The Board also approved proposed bylaws changes necessary to implement the biennial international conventions that were approved at last summer's convention in Greensboro, North Carolina. LHM Executive Director Bruce Wurdeman has appointed a task force to begin putting together the regional conferences for 2011 and he presented some early ideas on what the events might offer. They will be short on business and long on worship, Bible study, outreach, training, motivation, service, recreation, and fun. More details will be shared in the coming months.

Board members participated in a chapel service at the LHM headquarters where Wurdeman was officially installed as the new executive director for the ministry. Committee meetings were shortened so that ministry presentations could be made in front of the entire Board in order to reduce duplication of presentations and use time more effectively. Among the presentations were the annual audit for 2008-2009, which was approved, and a report that income is running above budgeted projections and expenses are running behind. "For those wonderful blessings, and for all our faithful supporters, we say Praise God," says Int'l LLL President Mick Onnen.

The Board's next meeting will be held in St. Louis in mid January.